Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Carolyn Katz - CKatz Photography
Allen Announces Class of 2024
2/13/2020 9:29:00 AM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern baseball and head coach Spencer Allen will welcome eight players to their roster as part of the class of 2024. The newcomers will join the team in fall of 2020.
Full bios for the signees are below…
Jay Beshears | IF/RHP | Naples, Fla. | Community School of Naples
High School: Named offensive player of the year in 2019… Four-year varsity player and four-time captain in baseball… Three-year varsity starter and two time captain in basketball… Batted .561 and scored 30 runs his junior year… Named to Naples Daily News All-Area Baseball 1st Team in 2019 and 2nd Team in 2018… Nominated for Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week in March 2018… Named Pitcher of the Year in 2018… Named Defensive Player of the year in 2017… Played 10 years with JSB Tigers… Earned PG Preseason Underclassmen All-American Team Honorable Mention in 2018 and 2019… Ranked in top 500 nationally… Named to 2018 16u BCS National Championship All-Tournament Team… Named to 2018 WWBA Florida Qualifier All-Tournament Team… Named 2017 14u Southwest Championship MVP… Made honor roll every semester of high school… Member of English and Spanish National Honor Societies.
Personal: Born Jay Robert Beshears on May 6, 2002… Parents are Lori and Mark Beshears… Uncle played collegiate baseball at Ferris University… Anticipated major is economics.
Vince Bianchina | MIF | Lafayette, Calif. | De La Salle HS
High School: Three-year varsity letter-winner and 2020 team captain in baseball… two-year varsity letter-winner in football… Batted .416 his junior year with .500 OBP… Helped team to #2 national ranking and won North Coast Section Championship game in 2019… Finished 29-1 his junior year… Awarded first team MaxPreps California All-State honors… Awarded first team All-Metro San Francisco Chronicle honors… Named to All East Bay Athletic League Team… 2019 East Bay Athletic League batting champion… Ranked #3 batting leader in Division 1 North Coast Section… Played in 2019 Rawlings California Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game… Played three years with Zoots Baseball Club.
Personal: Born Vincent Edward Bianchina on November 11, 2001… Parents are Rick and Debra Bianchina… Grandfather Richard Bianchina lettered in both baseball and football at Stanford University… Father played collegiate baseball at Santa Clara University… Anticipated major is political science.
Garrett Boeckle | RHP | Tampa, Fla. | Berkeley Preparatory School
High School: Four-year varsity player… received four letters… Batted .500 with 1.000 fielding percentage and a 0.63 ERA during his junior year… two-time district runner-up and one-time district semi-finalist… Played four years with Burn 2020 Platinum… Two-times WWBA world champions… 17u BCS National Champions… Ranked #4 nationally by Perfect Game… Received Dean's List Award twice… Received Headmaster's List Award.
Personal: Born Garrett James Boeckle on July 9, 2002… Parents are David Boeckle and Michelle Cormier-Boeckle… Anticipated major is biological sciences.
Ben Grable | IF/RHP | Pasadena, Calif. | Flintridge Preparatory
High School: Four-year letter winner and two-year captain in both baseball and football… Batted .475 in junior season with .837 slugging percentage, while also stealing 13 bases on 14 attempts … Batted .368 with a .573 slugging percentage as a sophomore and went 12-12 on steals … League MVP and team MVP as a junior in spring of 2019 … First team all-league and second team all-area in 2018 and 2019 … Participant in 2019 Area Code Games and Perfect Game National Showcase and Southern California Scouts Association All-Star Game … Dean's list and Honor Roll for all four years.
Personal: Born Bennett Joseph Grable on May 3, 2002… Parents are Andrea and Dave Grable… Father was a four-year letter winning linebacker at Stanford… Anticipated major is undecided.
Tony Livermore | MIF | Chicago, Ill. | Mount Carmel Chicago
High School: Four-year captain in both baseball and football… Played two years of basketball… Earned All-Conference honors in baseball and football… Five-time All-State honor recipient in baseball… Team MVP his freshman year… Played six years with Top Tier Baseball… Ranked #1 in state… Named to high honor roll every trimester in high school.
Personal: Born Anthony Michael Livermore on October 2, 2001… Parents are Brian Livermore and Lisa Franco… Father played collegiate football at University of Illinois… Anticipated major is Psychology.
Ethan O'Donnell | OF | Highlands Ranch, Colo. | Regis Jesuit
High School: Helped Regis Jesuit to a 25-6 season and a state championship his junior year… Hit for a .388 average with 1.145 OPS in 2019… Continental League All-Conference Team selection… PBR All-State Team selection… 2019 Sunbelt Tournament All-Tournament Team selection… Two varsity letters… Invited to National High School Invitational at USA Baseball facility in Cary, NC… Played in Futures Game at Coors Field… Played nine years with Slammers and Colorado Rockies Scout Team… Made honor roll every semester… Member of NHS for two years.
Personal: Born Ethan Thaddeus O'Donnell on March 27, 2002… Parents are Brian and Brooke O'Donnell… Grandfather was a three-sport athlete at Nebraska… Anticipated major is economics.
Kellen Pate | RHP | Rogers, Ark. | Shiloh Christian School
High School: Four-year player ... In 2019, went 9-2 with a 1.19 ERA Finished his junior season with a 3.53 ERA and 5-2 record in 13 appearances and eight games started … Posted a 3.11 ERA as a sophomore … Finished as state runner-up and participated at Midwest Nationals for three straight seasons … Under Armour Preseason All-American … Area Code Games Tryouts Invitee (3 years)
Personal: Born Kellen Thomas Pate on September 24, 2001… Parents are Kevin and Shelley Pate… Father played collegiate baseball at University of Texas… Named NW Arkansas Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man of the Year Candidate in 2020… Owns and operates KTP Trading, an eBay collectible trading cards business… Anticipated major is economics.
David Utagawa | RHP | Phoenix, Ariz. | Corona Del Sol HS
High School: Went 4-1 with a 2.5 ERA during his junior season… Winning pitcher in 2019 Boras Classic Championship game… Team MVP recipient freshman year… Three-year letter recipient… Selected for Team Arizona for 2019 Sunbelt Classic… All-Central Region Honorable Mention… Selected for All-Academic Team at Junior Fall Classic… Played eight years of club ball with Canyon Thunder… Arizona 6A State runners-up in 2019… Competed in USA Baseball National High School Invitational in Cary, NC during junior year… Helped team to 13-5 record in 2019 and 15-3 record in 2018… USA Baseball Southwest Championships runners-up in 2018… Wilson Premier Championships West runners-up in 2018… Prospect wire World Series Champions 2018… Perfect Game Fall National Champions 2017… Received Dr. Voie Stuart Chase Coy Scholar Athlete Award… Honor roll all four years… Graduating with Seal of Biliteracy Diploma for Spanish.
Personal: Born David Christopher Utagawa on April 17, 2002… Parents are Maria and Chris Utagawa… Competed against fellow 2020 recruit Ethan O'Donnell at the 2019 Sunbelt Classic… Plays drums, ukulele, guitar, and piano… Speaks Swedish and Spanish… Anticipated major is civil engineering.
Northwestern baseball begins their 2020 season on Friday, when they face Omaha for a three-game series in Glendale, Arizona.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Full bios for the signees are below…
Jay Beshears | IF/RHP | Naples, Fla. | Community School of Naples
High School: Named offensive player of the year in 2019… Four-year varsity player and four-time captain in baseball… Three-year varsity starter and two time captain in basketball… Batted .561 and scored 30 runs his junior year… Named to Naples Daily News All-Area Baseball 1st Team in 2019 and 2nd Team in 2018… Nominated for Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week in March 2018… Named Pitcher of the Year in 2018… Named Defensive Player of the year in 2017… Played 10 years with JSB Tigers… Earned PG Preseason Underclassmen All-American Team Honorable Mention in 2018 and 2019… Ranked in top 500 nationally… Named to 2018 16u BCS National Championship All-Tournament Team… Named to 2018 WWBA Florida Qualifier All-Tournament Team… Named 2017 14u Southwest Championship MVP… Made honor roll every semester of high school… Member of English and Spanish National Honor Societies.
Personal: Born Jay Robert Beshears on May 6, 2002… Parents are Lori and Mark Beshears… Uncle played collegiate baseball at Ferris University… Anticipated major is economics.
Vince Bianchina | MIF | Lafayette, Calif. | De La Salle HS
High School: Three-year varsity letter-winner and 2020 team captain in baseball… two-year varsity letter-winner in football… Batted .416 his junior year with .500 OBP… Helped team to #2 national ranking and won North Coast Section Championship game in 2019… Finished 29-1 his junior year… Awarded first team MaxPreps California All-State honors… Awarded first team All-Metro San Francisco Chronicle honors… Named to All East Bay Athletic League Team… 2019 East Bay Athletic League batting champion… Ranked #3 batting leader in Division 1 North Coast Section… Played in 2019 Rawlings California Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game… Played three years with Zoots Baseball Club.
Personal: Born Vincent Edward Bianchina on November 11, 2001… Parents are Rick and Debra Bianchina… Grandfather Richard Bianchina lettered in both baseball and football at Stanford University… Father played collegiate baseball at Santa Clara University… Anticipated major is political science.
Garrett Boeckle | RHP | Tampa, Fla. | Berkeley Preparatory School
High School: Four-year varsity player… received four letters… Batted .500 with 1.000 fielding percentage and a 0.63 ERA during his junior year… two-time district runner-up and one-time district semi-finalist… Played four years with Burn 2020 Platinum… Two-times WWBA world champions… 17u BCS National Champions… Ranked #4 nationally by Perfect Game… Received Dean's List Award twice… Received Headmaster's List Award.
Personal: Born Garrett James Boeckle on July 9, 2002… Parents are David Boeckle and Michelle Cormier-Boeckle… Anticipated major is biological sciences.
Ben Grable | IF/RHP | Pasadena, Calif. | Flintridge Preparatory
High School: Four-year letter winner and two-year captain in both baseball and football… Batted .475 in junior season with .837 slugging percentage, while also stealing 13 bases on 14 attempts … Batted .368 with a .573 slugging percentage as a sophomore and went 12-12 on steals … League MVP and team MVP as a junior in spring of 2019 … First team all-league and second team all-area in 2018 and 2019 … Participant in 2019 Area Code Games and Perfect Game National Showcase and Southern California Scouts Association All-Star Game … Dean's list and Honor Roll for all four years.
Personal: Born Bennett Joseph Grable on May 3, 2002… Parents are Andrea and Dave Grable… Father was a four-year letter winning linebacker at Stanford… Anticipated major is undecided.
Tony Livermore | MIF | Chicago, Ill. | Mount Carmel Chicago
High School: Four-year captain in both baseball and football… Played two years of basketball… Earned All-Conference honors in baseball and football… Five-time All-State honor recipient in baseball… Team MVP his freshman year… Played six years with Top Tier Baseball… Ranked #1 in state… Named to high honor roll every trimester in high school.
Personal: Born Anthony Michael Livermore on October 2, 2001… Parents are Brian Livermore and Lisa Franco… Father played collegiate football at University of Illinois… Anticipated major is Psychology.
Ethan O'Donnell | OF | Highlands Ranch, Colo. | Regis Jesuit
High School: Helped Regis Jesuit to a 25-6 season and a state championship his junior year… Hit for a .388 average with 1.145 OPS in 2019… Continental League All-Conference Team selection… PBR All-State Team selection… 2019 Sunbelt Tournament All-Tournament Team selection… Two varsity letters… Invited to National High School Invitational at USA Baseball facility in Cary, NC… Played in Futures Game at Coors Field… Played nine years with Slammers and Colorado Rockies Scout Team… Made honor roll every semester… Member of NHS for two years.
Personal: Born Ethan Thaddeus O'Donnell on March 27, 2002… Parents are Brian and Brooke O'Donnell… Grandfather was a three-sport athlete at Nebraska… Anticipated major is economics.
Kellen Pate | RHP | Rogers, Ark. | Shiloh Christian School
High School: Four-year player ... In 2019, went 9-2 with a 1.19 ERA Finished his junior season with a 3.53 ERA and 5-2 record in 13 appearances and eight games started … Posted a 3.11 ERA as a sophomore … Finished as state runner-up and participated at Midwest Nationals for three straight seasons … Under Armour Preseason All-American … Area Code Games Tryouts Invitee (3 years)
Personal: Born Kellen Thomas Pate on September 24, 2001… Parents are Kevin and Shelley Pate… Father played collegiate baseball at University of Texas… Named NW Arkansas Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man of the Year Candidate in 2020… Owns and operates KTP Trading, an eBay collectible trading cards business… Anticipated major is economics.
David Utagawa | RHP | Phoenix, Ariz. | Corona Del Sol HS
High School: Went 4-1 with a 2.5 ERA during his junior season… Winning pitcher in 2019 Boras Classic Championship game… Team MVP recipient freshman year… Three-year letter recipient… Selected for Team Arizona for 2019 Sunbelt Classic… All-Central Region Honorable Mention… Selected for All-Academic Team at Junior Fall Classic… Played eight years of club ball with Canyon Thunder… Arizona 6A State runners-up in 2019… Competed in USA Baseball National High School Invitational in Cary, NC during junior year… Helped team to 13-5 record in 2019 and 15-3 record in 2018… USA Baseball Southwest Championships runners-up in 2018… Wilson Premier Championships West runners-up in 2018… Prospect wire World Series Champions 2018… Perfect Game Fall National Champions 2017… Received Dr. Voie Stuart Chase Coy Scholar Athlete Award… Honor roll all four years… Graduating with Seal of Biliteracy Diploma for Spanish.
Personal: Born David Christopher Utagawa on April 17, 2002… Parents are Maria and Chris Utagawa… Competed against fellow 2020 recruit Ethan O'Donnell at the 2019 Sunbelt Classic… Plays drums, ukulele, guitar, and piano… Speaks Swedish and Spanish… Anticipated major is civil engineering.
Northwestern baseball begins their 2020 season on Friday, when they face Omaha for a three-game series in Glendale, Arizona.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
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